The wastewater treatment plant in Rabrovo, in the municipality of Kučevo, began operations on October 13, 2026, becoming the first facility commissioned under the national “Clean Serbia” project. Construction work on the facility was carried out by Millennium Team’s Environmental Sector.
The plant has a capacity of 1,000 population equivalents (PE) and uses advanced Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) technology to provide efficient treatment of municipal wastewater. Following treatment, the treated water will be discharged into the Pek River.
“This is a very important milestone for us, as this is the first wastewater treatment plant in Serbia to become operational under the Clean Serbia project. We are proud that our entire Environmental Sector contributed to the implementation of a project that improves the quality of life for local residents and helps protect the environment,” said Aleksandra Anđelković, Director of Millennium Team’s Environmental Sector.
The Rabrovo plant is part of a broader municipal infrastructure development project in the municipality of Kučevo, which Millennium Team has been implementing since 2022 under the Clean Serbia program. The project includes the design and construction of a new sewer network, two wastewater treatment plants, and upgrades to the entire existing infrastructure.
During previous phases of construction, Millennium Team’s Environmental Sector teams completed a significant portion of the sewer network across the municipality. A total of 7.4 kilometers of sewer network was constructed in Rabrovo, while another 16.7 kilometers was completed in the wider Kučevo municipality, bringing the total length of the sanitary sewer network to 24.1 kilometers.
The Rabrovo plant was designed to serve 1,000 population equivalents, meeting the needs of the area covered by the system. It uses advanced MBBR technology, which enables the biological treatment of municipal wastewater.
Construction of the plant began in late April, following site preparation activities. Excavation work was then carried out for the foundation pit of the wastewater pretreatment structure. Work subsequently continued on the construction and installation of equipment at the plant, while other sections of the sewer infrastructure were developed in parallel.
Wastewater treatment at the Rabrovo plant takes place in several stages, from the removal of large debris to biological treatment, during which microorganisms break down organic matter in the water.
At the beginning of the process, wastewater passes through screens that retain coarse solids larger than 20 mm. The collected debris is automatically transferred to a container. Pumps then convey the wastewater for further mechanical treatment. At this stage, smaller solid particles, sand, and grease are removed to prepare the water for the subsequent treatment stages.
Following mechanical treatment, the wastewater is collected and equalized in a dedicated basin before undergoing biological treatment. MBBR technology plays a key role in this process, using specially designed carriers on which microorganisms grow. These microorganisms break down organic matter in the wastewater, while additional chambers, with controlled aeration and water circulation, enhance the treatment process and the removal of nitrogen compounds.
In the final stage, the water passes through a settling tank, where the remaining suspended solids and sludge are separated. The sludge undergoes additional treatment before being pumped out and sent for dewatering and subsequent storage at a landfill. Chemical analysis of sludge samples is also carried out beforehand. The treated water discharged into the Pek River will significantly improve river water quality and reduce harmful environmental impacts.
The entire plant can operate in automatic mode through a central control panel that displays the entire treatment process and allows it to be monitored. Each individual piece of equipment also has its own local control panel. If necessary, the system can be operated manually and can also be shut down in unforeseen circumstances.
The commissioning of the plant was attended by Nenad Mikić, President of the Municipality of Kučevo, representatives of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), the Chinese partner company involved in the Clean Serbia project, and members of Millennium Team’s Environmental Sector team.
